The Resilient Bridgeport team has been working on the design of the pilot project in the South End, beginning with the solicitation of a topographic survey for the project area. This survey will be critical to the design team’s effort to advance the pilot project design to 30% completion. The team’s engineers also are continuing to refine and use the stormwater model for the pilot project area, especially to understand flooding at the intersection of Park Avenue and the Northeast Corridor railroad. This intersection is critical for dry egress from the South End. The team’s focus will focus on the pilot project during the coming months in anticipation of the next substantial amendment to the state’s CDBG-DR action plan. The next public workshop to discuss the pilot project will be held in late March.​

Additionally, the Project Team hosted a series of stakeholder meetings to collect feedback on the resilience strategy and to continue learning about existing conditions and opportunities and stakeholder needs. These meetings targeted the Black Rock Harbor area, and stakeholders including businesses in the Eco-Tech Park, representatives from leadership of the three bordering Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (West Side NRZ, Black Rock NRZ, and South End NRZ), Captain’s Cove and other marinas and recreational boating groups, and significant property owners. 

Several stakeholder meetings were also held in Bridgeport this past month impacting the strategy for the eastern portion of the study area with the University of Bridgeport master plan team (Sasaki Associates), Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust, Alembic Community Development, and United Illuminating. The information from these meetings will inform the continued development of the resilience strategy, and the design team’s understanding of waterfront industry, development, ecology, and recreation in particular. The strategy also establishes the framework within which the pilot project will be implemented.